Clare Taylor

"I came to Saigon Children’s Charity as a VSO (Canada) volunteer to work at Thang Long School.  My assignment was to “improve the quality of teaching in the English program and to start a hospitality training program.”

Improving the quality of teaching for me meant introducing the ideas and concepts and strategies of co-operative learning.  Co-operative learning works on the assumption that two heads are better than one, that co-operation with others is better than working alone, that sharing resources is a way of getting rather than losing and that interdependence and teamwork among students is a way of strengthening the fabric of the class and preparing students for life.  The idea was presented to teachers that learning can happen on many levels and that along with English skills, important social skills can be part of every lesson.

The hospitality course was designed to be active and fun.  Students laughed and played as they performed and practiced the skills involved in setting a table, greeting the customer and saying good-bye.

Most importantly in both the English program and the hospitality program students and teachers were presented with the idea that learning could be loads of fun."

Ria Poulsen, Holland
"My name is Ria Poulsen. I have been volunteering for SCC in the X'mas season of 2003/2004, during which I have - together with some other volunteers and some great colleagues at SCC - produced and sold X'mas cards, calendars and T-shirts. This experience gave me a great chance to work together with my Vietnamese colleagues, getting to know the Vietnamese culture and giving my share in giving children in Saigon a better future. I can recommend it to everybody!."

Leo Balzano, USA
Leo taught paper making at Thang Long School and at the deaf school in Cu Chi.

"I found the children to be attentive, warm and eager to learn. In most cases, after teaching them a specific artistic method, I learned to step back and would marvel at their ability to comprehend the lesson and to then go ahead and perform the step. Their confidence was overwhelming considering their outside itinerant lives. There is no doubting it, when the children are in school, they are happy.

"I found SCC staff to be pleasant, professional and warm to me at all times, which in my opinion, is a result of SCC's training and guidance."

Barbara Gibbs, UK
Barbara, a retired primary school teacher, taught English at Thang Long School.

"What did I expect when I volunteered to teach at Thang Long School? Streetwise children with a neglected and hungry air? Nothing surprised me more to find children so keen and determined to listen, to learn, so quick, alert, so ready to smile and laugh - and with the older ones - such confidence.

"The dedicated and very capable staff of the school were charming and helpful and touchingly grateful for the small amount I was able to do. I was very impressed with the teaching schemes and use of tape recorders and the splendid new building, complete with white boards and felt tip markers.

"It was all a very rewarding experience and I feel it has been a great privilege to have been part of SCC and to have contributed even in such a small way."

Luca Savi & Gabriella Manina, Italy
Luca and Gabriella worked with SCC as management consultants in late 2000. They helped market calendars and Christmas cards and helped with several management initiatives including the design of this website.

"After searching for a few months for an NGO where 2 MBAs like us would have been able to add some value and make an impact, we were ready to give up. Unfortunately the level of the people we met, the structures and the waste we saw in most of these NGO's almost changed our minds. Luckily, we came across Saigon Children's Charity just in time. We met Paul (SCC's director) whose entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude were very refreshing.
We simply loved it all the way through"

Chris Paget, Australia
Chris worked with SCC through Australian Volunteers International.

"I volunteered as an agriculturist from February 1998 until March 2000. Working on the micro-credit programme in Can Gio district enabled me to practice the skills I had learned in Australia, as well as develop new skills that have helped me since. I very much enjoyed the opportunity to work in Vietnam, and am grateful for the assistance and support that was given to me by all at Saigon Children's Charity."